Application in curriculum
Facebook (FB) is a social networking website that was originally created for university students. Eventually, it become open to high school students and is now open to anyone over the age of 13 (Wikipedia, 2010). Thus, if educators are to integrate FB into curriculum they must be aware of the age restriction. Greenhow, Robella & Hughes (2009) explain that the current generation is part of a participatory culture where youth feel connected via social media and can use these tools as “collaborative problem solving” (p. 249). The research posits that using social media “might promote potentially rich opportunities to make learning more personally meaningful, collaborative and socially relevant” (Greenhow et al., 2009, p. 249).
Teachers can create profiles on various social media sites and spend “15-20 minutes of near daily commenting, instant messaging, posting status updates, evaluating friend requests, reading blog entries, reading news sources, sending out requests for information, engaging in groups, and sharing and tagging videos, photos, and scanned artwork” (Greenhow, Robelia, & Kim, 2008 as cited in Greenhow, 2008, p. 5).
FB contains a variety of applications (apps) that educators can use to promote reading, language skills and research assistance (Accredited Online Schools, 2008). Educators can choose which apps they can encourage their students to use. Also, educators (or students) can set up “groups” which can act as study groups or group project sites. In addition, educators or students can use the “wall” to post announcements regarding homework, due dates, events or special instructions. Students can post their thoughts, ideas or questions on their wall which can allow other classmates or the teacher to respond either asynchronously or synchronously (Merchant, 2007). Educators can encourage students to add classmates as friends in order to connect regarding school related work. Outside of curriculum, students can organize fundraising events or set up volunteer groups.
Student’s perspective
While researching educational theorists (for this course and others) for various assignments, I managed to find some theorists on FB. I found Seymour Papert and Phillip Schletchty on FB with active profiles who have both added me as friends. Although they did not add me until after my assignments were handed in, I find it exciting that I can connect directly with these theorists about their latest work or previous findings. This allows for direct communication which would have been impossible just a few years ago. As a student, I feel globally and generationally connected to leaders in the field of education which makes researching and communication simplistic.
Challenges
There are a number of challenges and dilemmas associated with integrating FB into education. Based on my analysis, I believe that Integrating FB into curriculum can be safe and beneficial if done at the post-secondary and advanced degree stages; however, may it not be viable with middle or high school students. The first issue being that FB is a transparent online tool that gives people avenues to display personal information. Young students are not aware of the dangers associated with posting personal information online and how it can be used for inappropriate purposes by others. This feature of FB is not controllable by the educator. A related problem is that students can use FB in any way they like regardless of how the educators would want them to use it. Posting pictures and chatting about personal matters on their wall may pose a privacy issue. Another challenge of integrating FB into curriculum is equity and access within the class. Not all students will have access to a computer or the internet from home and hence may not be able to access the learning resources or student groups unlike other classmates. Using FB can also be used as a bullying medium for students (cyber bullying) which cannot be controlled by the educator. Lastly, from a different perspective, teachers must be vigilant and careful about what they post of FB. Digital postings leave digital footprints and are irretrievable. Hence, if a teacher were using FB to compliment curriculum, they must treat it as their classroom and only post what they would say or do in their own classroom.
